Disconnect switch



Feb. 17, 1948. F. H. can:

DISCONNEGT SWITCH Filed May 11, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 lllllllllllllll u INVENTOR. Feb-0E C045, BY (9W ATTORN EY.

Feb. 17, 1948. F. H. COLE 2,436,290

DISCONNECT SWITCH Filgd May 11, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 2' Ike-0E COLE, INVENTOR.

ATTORN EY.

Feb. 17, 1948. F. H. COLE DISCONNECT SWITCH Filed May 11, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 ENVENTOR. 0 6" 591,5,

ATTORN EY.

Patented Feb. 17, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,436,290 I DI SCONNECT swrrcn Fred H. Cole, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application May 11, 1943, Serial No..486;505-

2 Claims. (01. 200-48) This invention relates to electrical equipment and particularly pertains to what is generally termed a disconnect switch.

It is the principal object of my present inven tion to provide a generally improved disconnect switch structure.

It is a further object of my present invention to provide a disconnect switch structure which will withstand earthquakes and like shocks.

It is a further object of my present invention to provide an improved tripodic tower for disconnect switches so constructed as to be rigid and of sufiicient strength to withstand earthquakes and like shocks without crumbling of the insulators.

One form which my invention may assume is exemplified in the following description, and i1- lustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of an improved disconnect switch embodying the preferred form of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of my improved switch.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partly in section of the upper end of one tower.

Fig. 4 is a plan section of one tower taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

. Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 55 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the connection between one operating leg of a tower and the base and showing the operating mechanism.

I Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view in section taken on line 'l-l of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 6.

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawings, Ill indicates a disconnect switch for use in power lines of high potential. This switch is particularly adapted for use in bypassin the load at sub-stations in the event of earthquakes or other shocks of severity sufficient'to disrupt the operability of the sub-station, My improved switch, however, is capable of use in many other capacities.

The switch l0 includes a rectangular horizon tal base I I suitably constructed of structural steel as illustrated. At each end of the base N there is mounted a tripodic switch blade tower i4.

These towers are indicated by the letters A and B. The tower A carries the female switch blade l5 while the tower B carries the male switch blade IS. The blade I5 is formed with a socket ll in its end to receive the male contact end 6 iB-of the blade l6 The formation of these parts andthe swinging action of the blades is such that a wiping type of contact is made as the blades are swung to close or open the switch. It is obvious of course, that other types ofcontactbetween the blades may be substituted for those shown without departing from the invention. r

The towers A and B are identical in construction and each comprises three insulator stacks or legs C, Dand E arranged to forma tripod, Each leg is connected at its lower end to the base and the'three legs are connected together at their upper ends and at intermediate points so that the, tower will be formed as a rigid tripod. Each legis formed of' a plurality (in this case three) porcelain insulators I9, 20, and 2| rigidly connected together by connectors 22 (in the case of the stationary legs 0 and D) and by connector bearings 23 in the case of the rotatin leg E.

It is the operating leg E which is connected to the associated switch blade for operating the same. This connection between the switch blade and .the leg E is best illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, it will be seen that the upper insulator l9 of the leg I8 is fitted with a'connector 24 having a bearing disk 25. A similarbea'ring disk 26 is fitted to the underside of a switch blade clamp 2'! and is rigidly held in axially spaced relation to the bearing disk 26 by a spacer, 28 and. bolts 29, the latter rigidly connecting the connector 24 to the clamp 21 as illustrated. Extending coaxially and centrally between the bearing disks 25 and 26 is a bearing pintle 30 which is secured at its ends in the disks 25 and.26.. Projecting radially between the bearing disks 25 and 26 is'a radius arm 3| which is bored at its outer end to rotatably receive the bearing pintle 33. At its other end the arm 3! is rigidly secured to a top plate 32 which in turn is bolted or otherwise secured to connectors 33 at the upper ends of the-insulators (9 of. the fixed legs 0 and D. l A ring 34 is also connected to the top plate 32 by radial arms 32a. Thus, a rigid connection is established between the upper ends of the three legs 0, D, and E, but permitting the latter to revolve a, limited amount sufficient to open and close the switch.

It will be noticed that the upper end of the switch blade clamp 21 is formed to removably receive the end of the switch blade and is connected by a flexible braid conductor 21a to a terminal 21b fixedon the top plate 32 and by means of which the current is led to the switch blade.

By reference to Figs. 3 and 5, it will be seen that the connectors 22 between the insulators I9, 20, and 2| of the stationary legs and D of each tower comprise complemental connector members 22a fixed to adjoining ends of the adjacent insulators and fastened together by bolts or capscrews as shown. Between the two members is interposed a connector arm 22?) which is fastened thereto'by the bolts or=capscrews which connect the connector members 22a. The connector arm 222) extends radially as shown so that it may be bolted to an ear 220 of a connector ring 22d arranged between the three legs as illustrated.

Referring to Fig. 3 it will be seen that the cond tower has been erected and it has been ascertained that the leg E is in perfect alignment. Thereafter the clamp studs 42 are tightened to maintain the leg E in proper alignment.

The lower extremity of the leg E is fitted with afixed connector 43 which in turn is bolted by means of studs 46 to a matching disk 45 to which is secured a pintle 45. The latter, of course, extends coaxially of the leg E and projects into the bearing cage 45 and is mountedtherein in thrust bearings d'l.

In the case of the leg E of one tower, the pintle 35 extends through the lower end of the bearing nector bearings 23 between the insulators l9, 2!),

and 2! of the operating leg E of the tower each comprise a pair of comp-lemental connect-ormembers 23a fixed to adjacent ends of adjoining insulators. These members are spaced apart so as to receive therebetween a bearin 2312. This bearing comprises two bearing plates 230 between which is an arcuate spacer 23d welded to each plate.

, A bearing pin 23a is located coaxially of the plates 23c and held thereby as illustrated. A bearing arm 23) is interposed between the plates 23c and pivoted on the pin 238 as shown. This arm 23] extends radially so that it may be bolted to an ear 220 of the connector ring 22d;

After the legs 0, D,and E are erected and connected together at their upper ends as described and connected to the base H as will be hereinafter described so, as to be in proper relative alignment, the connector rings are fitted in place and bolted to the arms 22b and 23] to form .a supporting connection between the legs C, D, and E as well as intermediate bearings for the operating leg E. It will be seen that such a connection is provided at each junction between the insulators. It should be pointed out that I may choose to use a greater or lesser number of insulators .than that shown.

At their lower ends, the fixed or stationary legs C and D are connected by a clevis type of connection to the base H to give a certain amount of flexibility to the fixed legs during the erection of the towers to enable proper alignment of the legs and elimination of stresses due to improper alignment.

The operating legs E of the towers are each connected to the base H by a thrust bearing structure shown in Figs. 6 and 8 inclusive and indicated in Fig; 1 by numeral 35. Referring to Figs. 6 to 8 inclusive, it will be seen that each bearing is mounted on a transverse channel 35 forming a rigid part of the base ll. Each bearing 35 includes a heavy collar 3'! which is securely fixed 0n the channel as by welding or otherwise so that it will form a rigid part thereof,

At diametrically opposite points, and on an axis which is transversely positioned with respect to the base H, the collar 3? is formed with aligned bores 39 to receive trunnions 363 fixed on a bearing cage 6|. 'This bearing cage is coaxially disposed with respect to the leg E. I

From Fig. '7 it will be seen that clamping studs 42 are provided which thread coaxially into the trunnions 40, the latter of which being of a length that they extend short of the outer perimeter of the fixed collar 31. Obviously whenthese clamping studs are tightened, rotating movement of the trunnions so in the bores 39 is prevented. Thus, during erection of the tower, the clamping studs 42 are maintained loose until the entire cage :2! to provide an operating shaft 48. However, in the case of the leg E of the opposite tower, the pintle 45 terminates within the cage 1i I. Suitable grease tight caps 49 and 5!! are'provided at the ends or the cage ii so that the bearings ll may be packed with a lubricant,

Clamped between the connector i3 and the disk '45 at the lower end of each leg E is a crank arm 5!. The crank arms 5! of the two legs E are connected by a connecting rod 52 so that when one pintle it is revolved, both legs-E of the two towers will be revolved simultaneously. It is by this rotative movement of the legs E that the switch blades are moved to open and closed position, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

From Figs. 1 and 6 it will be seen that the operating shaft at is provided with an operating mechanism 53 including a crank handle 54. A mounting plate 55 which may be secured in any desired position is provided for the mounting mechanism 53 and for latching the handle 54 as illustrated. The operating mechanism 53 includes a shaft 53 connected by a universal joint 57 to the operating shaft 58. Obviously when the crank handle 54 is swung to a horizontal position, it may be utilized to turn the shaft 56 and through it a shaft 3. This in turn will turn the pintle Q6 of one leg E and through the crank arm 5! and the connecting rod 52 will turn the other leg E of the other tower a similar amount. As previously described, this swing turning movement of the legs E of the towers, acts to swing the switch blades either to open or closed position depending upon the position of the parts and the direction of movement of the crank handle 54.

from one conductor to the other through the medium of the switch blades. If it'is desired to open the switch, the operating handle is unlatched from the plate 55 and swung in a. horizontal plane. This as described causes a turning movement of the operating leg E of one tower and causes swinging movement of its switch biade. This movement will be simultaneously transmitted "to the operating leg E of the other tower through the medium oi'the crank arms 5i and the connecting rod 52 so that the two switch blades will swing to either open or closed position in unison.

As is well known, insulators such as used in erecting disconnect switch towers are comparatively weak in tensile strength, that is to say, they are not shock resistant. However, by my tripodic construction of the towers, I have so arranged the legs thereof that the towers will be able to withstand earthquakes and like severe shocks.

While I have shown the preferred form of my invention, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in its construction by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the character described, a tripodic tower, each leg of said tower being formed of a plurality of connected insulators, two of said legs being held stationary and one being adapted to rotate on its axis, connecting means at the top of said legs and at intermediate points therealong, said means including radial members connected with the legs at the top and each intermediate point therealong, the connections with the rotatable leg forming bearings to permit rotation thereof, and a switch blade connected with said rotatable leg to be operated thereby.

2. In a device of the character described, a

tripodic tower, each leg of said tower being formed of a plurality of connected insulators, two of said legs being held stationary and one being adapted to rotate on its axis, connecting means at the top of said legs and at intermediate points therealong, said means including radial members connected with the legs at the top and each intermediate point therealong, the ring connecting the top of said legs being arranged exteriorly thereof while the ring at each intermediate point is arranged interiorly of the legs, the connections with the rotatable leg forming bearings to permit rotation thereof, and a switch blade connected with said rotatable leg to be operated thereby.

FRED H. COLE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 917,785 Mershon Apr. 13, 1903 2,094,087 Wilkins Sept. 28, 1937 2,185,729 Froland Jan. 2, 1940 

